Old City residents elated with Metro proposal, seek speedy work

A proposal by the state government on extending the Metro Rail network to the Shamshabad airport via the Old City route was well received by residents, who are awaiting the works to commence.

Navid Salman, a businessman in Malakpet, said: “Recently, AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi inspected the route along with the Metro management, and assured residents that he requested the government to take up the work on priority.”

“The Malakpet Metro Rail has reduced traffic congestion and is serving residents of Saidabad, Old Malakpet, Paltan, Chanchalguda, Azampura Saleem,” said Salman.

The plan is to route the Metro Rail via Mailardevpally, Jalpally and P7 Road or via Barkas-Pahadi Shareef and Srisailam Road.

“The Old City is densely populated, with narrow roads filled with establishments. Thousands of students and techies have to use cabs. The Metro line would ease their woes,” said Syed Saifullah Hussaini, a religious leader from Shalibanda.

It route is expected to benefit residents of Darulshifa, Purani Haveli, Etebar Chowk, Alijakotla, Mir Momim Daira, Haribowli, Shalibanda, Shamsheergunj, Aliabad, Charminar and Falaknuma.

 “The proposed corridor from MGBS via Falaknuma, Shalibanda and Shamsheergunj to RGIA will be a great advantage to the residents of Old City. Linking JBS, MGBS, Old City, RGIA and Hitec City will save time of over 50,000 people,” a traffic police officer said.

“It will resolve frequent snarls and jams not only on main roads connecting Madina, Alija Kotla, Shalibanda and Falaknuma, but also arterial roads in Old City,” the officer said.

Syed Affan, a software engineer from Noorkhan Bazaar, said: “Over 80 per cent of the software employees in my locality work in different parts of the city. We have been using private transport.”

Dr Omar Ali, a resident, said, “During Ramzan, due to heavy traffic jams ‘iftaris’ get held up in the traffic and have to break their fast on the road. The Metro line would be a blessing.”